Kabaddi, Kabaddi: Cross on One Breath

We borrow the most famous part of kabaddi, a traditional game from India: crossing to the other side while chanting "kabaddi, kabaddi..." on a single breath. With no tackling and no teams, children practice breath control, running and calming back down.

How to play

1. The teacher explains that in India people play kabaddi, and whoever goes into the other side has to keep saying "kabaddi, kabaddi" without taking a breath. Try saying it while sitting, as long as your air lasts (2 min).
2. Mark two shores with cones and put scarves on the far shore. Take a breath and walk across saying "kabaddi, kabaddi..." (2 min).
3. Now run across, grab one scarf and come back; if you run out of air, stop, breathe and keep walking (2 min).
4. Bring the scarves back in different ways, always chanting "kabaddi": hopping, sideways, giant steps (2 min).
5. Finish sitting down: breathe in through your nose and let it out slowly, whispering "kaaabaaadiii" (2 min).

Rules

• Take a breath before you go.
• If you run out of air, stop and breathe: that's OK.
• Everyone crosses at once without touching anyone.
• Take one scarf at a time.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a partner pushes the wheelchair across while the child chants "kabaddi," or the child does the breath challenge from their spot.
• Breathing issues or asthma: do only the walking part and breathe whenever needed; never push kids to hold their breath.
• Hearing impairment: give the "go" signal by dropping your hand and show the word kabaddi written on the board.

Learning goals

• Control breathing out while moving.
• Run to a marked area and back.
• Learn about a traditional game from India.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Scarves: 25
• Cones: 8

Teacher tip

Explain that real kabaddi has teams and tagging, but we only play the breathing part. Watch that nobody turns red holding their breath: the rule is stop and breathe.

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